“It’s just an unbelievable tragedy,” Greg Zipadelli, Stewart-Haas Racing Vice President of Competition said. “Our hearts go out to Kevin and his family. Thoughts and prayers. This is a very tough, very emotional time for everybody." Tony Stewart co-owns four NASCAR Sprint Cup cars under the Stewart-Haas Racing name.

UPDATE [2:15AM] - According to reporters at an Ontario County, NY Sheriff Department press conference, the driver was transported by ambulance and pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital.

Authorities are investigating an incident earlier tonight in which NASCAR driver Tony Stewart drove into driver Kevin Ward Jr while he was outside of his car during a dirt-track race on Saturday night.

According to his Twitter profile, Prescott Rossi is a Sports Anchor/Reporter for WROC-TV (CBS) in Rochester, NY, about an hour and a half from the race track. He was at the Sheriff's press conference earlier tonight:

According to witness accounts, the NASCAR driver hit and spun out 20 year old Kevin Ward Jr's car during the race. Ward exited his car and got into the path of Stewart's vehicle on the next lap, waving his hands angrily. Stewart's car appeared to accelerate, fishtail, and impact Ward, dragging him underneath and then throwing him violently onto the track. Upon landing in the dirt, Ward did not move.